Meet the Beatles for Real: 1978

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Playboy Party 1978

July 18, 1978

In 1974, Ringo and Keith Moon were banned from the Playboy Club in Los Angeles. I guess they weren't banned from all Playboy properties because on this date in 1978, Ringo brought his children and his ex-wife, Maureen along with Keith Moon to a big Playboy family party. It looks like everyone had a good time -- playing pool, watching hot air balloons, playing pinball, eating and drinking fancy drinks and it looks like Lee got ahold of a party balloon (which when you are a kid, it is pretty exciting to get to play with a balloon from a grown up party).

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

John's Home!!!

John’s Home!!!

By Vickie McCartney

With a Little Help From My Friends

October 1978

On October 3, 1978, Donna Standin and I went into NYC to view John’s Rolls at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum Design. After we took all of the pictures we wanted to get, we decided to go over to the Dakota.

We didn’t really expect to see anyone. When we got there, two limos were parked out in front. That was it. I was determined not to budge until we saw who was going to come out. We were barely there two minutes when John and Yoko came out of the building. They started walking up 72^nd Street pretty fast.

They were holding hands. Yoko’s hair is almost waist-length. She was wearing a grey coat sweater, black pants, and shoes. John’s hair is just about collar length, and it’s hard to believe how skinny he is. John wore a blue suede cap, brown suede jacket, black turtleneck sweater, a red plaid scarf, black Cuban-heeled boots, wire specs with black lenses, and black drainies so tight he looked like he was poured into them.

We ran up in back of them so fast, if John had stopped short, I would have rear-ended him. This was the first time Donna had ever gotten to see John so close. It must have been a shock because of saying something to them, she said, “Let’s go to McDonald’s.” I finally found my voice, “John, could I trouble you for an autograph?” He looked over his shoulder, smiled, and said, “Sorry luv, I don’t do that. But I could say ‘good morning.’” It was 11:00 a.m., and he looked tired. Me: “Ok!” Brilliant conversation. John: “Good morning.” Me: “Good morning, John. Thank you!” I can’t believe I said that!

We followed them for 12 blocks taking pictures from the rear. Everyone once in a while they would stop and window shop. We wonder if they were trying to see if we were still following them. When they stopped and waited for the light to turn green, John looked to see if we were still there. We pulled out a subway map and hoped we were faking him out.

We decided to go into McDonald’s after all; we didn’t want to make him mad. But the strange part was, the whole 12 blocks we tailed them, no one else stopped them or talked to them. It ended up being a perfect day!